Tennis, badminton, and like racket



Dec. 7, 1926. 1,609,662,,

M. A. RAWLINGS .ET AL TENNIS, BADMINTON, .AND LIKE RACKET Filed Sept. 15. 1926 2 sneets sheez 1 Dec. 7 ,'19 26. 1,609,662

M. A. RAWLINGS ET AL TENNIS, BADMINTON, AND LIKE RACKET Filed Sept. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

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TENNIS, BADMINTON; 'ANDLIKE' RACKETL Application-filed-September 13, 1926,.Serial NoL- 135,032,:andi1r Great 'Britainrilune 1, 1926.

This invention relates to tennis, badminton and like rackets, and has for its principal object to provide a racket having a resilient and flexible shaft which eliminates shock in the hand or shoulder of the player when a ball or shuttlecock is struck, while maintaining the rigidity of the connection between the shaft and stringed frame at the shoulder or throat portion of the racket and relieving that part from shock or strain tending to loosen or weaken the said con nection. The invention also gives a resiliency to the racket as a whole which insures a correct flight of the ball or shuttlecock and increases the driving power, at the same time producing a racket which is light, strong and durable in use.

According to the invention, the racket is provided with a flexible and resilient shaft composed. of a length of hickory or other wood of similar resiliency, the said shaft being separate from but suitably connected to the stringed frame and having a handle or grip portion built upon or surrounding its outer end only, leaving an exposed length of the shaft between the said handle or grip portion and the frame uncovered by either the said frame or handle and which is consequently free to flex when the ball or shuttlecoc-k is struck by the racket.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation of a tennis racket constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the racket.

Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section on line a2-00, Figure 2. V V

Figure at is a longitudinal section on line ee -m Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a. cross-section through the shaft on line a2 m Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross-section through the handle on line m m Figure 1.

Figure 7 represents a cross-section on line m*;r*, Figure 1. V

'Figure 8 shows the application of the invention to a badminton racket.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7, the racket comprises a stringed frame 1 composed of ash as is usuaL the ends of this frame being separated by and secured to a wedge piece or throat portion 2, forming the shoulder or head of the racket. The ends of the frame 1 extend only for the length of the wedge piece 2, head is mounted upon a flexible and resilient shaft 3 made of a single piece of hickory or like wood of similar resiliency. This shaft is connected to the shoulder or head of the racket by a splice joint, its upper end 1 being tapered on its four sides and inserted into a socket formed in the frame ends and wedge piece, being secured therein by glue and also preferably by a screw or bolt 5 which is passed through the ends of the frame 1 and also through the wedge 2 and tapered end fl: of the shaft.

The handle or grip portion 6 is provided at the outer end of the shaft 3, and is formed by building up or securing strips of wood upon the four sides of the said shaft 3, the lower portion of which is of a rectangular sect-ion. of the shaft 3 between the handle portion 6 and the ends of the frame 1. This exposed portion of the shaft, which may be of an elliptical cross-section, as shown in Figure 5, is thus free to flex when the ball is struck by the racket. By this means shock or jar to the arm or shoulder of the player is avoided, and the strain which would otherwise be imposed upon the racket at the shoulder or throat portion is avoided. Tendency to weaken or loosen the connection between the handle and frame, or between the wedge member and the frame, is also obviated. The resiliency or yield thus produced in the racket also insures the correct flight of the ball after impact with the racket.

The shaft may be of oval section, as shown, or it may be of circular, square or other section.

If desired, a twine binding 7 may surround the junction of the shaft and frame.

A badminton racket may be constructed in a similar manner, as shown in Figure 8, aflexible hickoryshaft 3 being employed spliced at 46 to the frame 1 and wedge 2, and having the handle or grip portion 6 built up around its outer end.

hat we do claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A racket comprising, in combination with a stringed frame, a flexible and resilient shaft composedof a length of hickory or like wood, the said shaft being made separate from but being suitably connected to and the said shoulder or There is thus an exposed length the stringed frame and having a grip portion built upon and surrounding its outer end only, leaving an exposed length of the shaft between the said grip portion and the stringed frame.

2. A racket comprising a stringed frame having in its inner end a socket tapered on all sides, and a flexible and resilient shaft composed of a length of hickory or like Wood, the said shaft having a grip portion built upon and surrounding its outer end only, leaving an exposed length of the shaft between the said grip portion and the stringed frame, and having its inner end tapered on all sides and inserted and secured within the tapered socket in the stringed frame.

In testimon} whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

MOSES AARON RAXVLINGS. ALBERT ED WARD RAlVLINGS. 

